Dental veneers are very thin shells of ceramic bonded to the front of the teeth. They are usually used to hide discolored teeth and whiten.
The Pros
• Veneers improve your smile. Veneers mask most discolored or chipped teeth while whitening your original teeth under the porcelain veneer, giving you a brighter, more confident everyday smile.
• Veneers can be done in two visits. The placing of veneers is fairly quick and is done without anesthesia, making it an outpatient procedure.
• Veneers make your teeth stronger. Placing veneers will allow the receiving tooth to get stronger while whitening and restoring your smile.
• Veneers’ effects can be immediate and long-lasting. Dental veneers work immediately to correct broken, chipped, or fractured teeth and last for 20 years, on average.
• Veneers look like natural teeth. The porcelain used to cover the tooth is made from similar materials as our actual teeth, giving them a natural look. They are also coated with a glass-like stain-resistant surface so the veneers stay white long-term.
The Cons
• High cost. Most veneers are expensive. Each single veneer costs between $1000 and $1500. If you multiply that by the number of teeth you need to get veneered, it can be quite expensive.
• Permanence. Veneers are a fairly permanent dental procedure as it is nearly impossible to reverse the procedure after it has been done, but studies have shown that it is a very small number of patients who ever actually decide they want their procedure reversed.
• Tooth sensitivity. Many people with veneers experience mild tooth sensitivity to hot and cold foods and drinks.
• Everyone’s not a candidate. Those with unhealthy teeth (especially those with decay or active periodontal disease).
• Fragility. While porcelain veneers are tough, they are still fragile and are not invincible.